Once a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, Gilgit has long been a meeting point for traders, travellers, and pilgrims journeying between Central and South Asia. As the state capital of the Gilgit-Baltistan region the city is surrounded by some of the world’s highest peaks and serves as a base from which to explore Pakistan’s mountainous north. The Karakoram Highway, often dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, connects the city with China and Islamabad, and provides access to some of the region’s most remote locations. Highlights in and around Gilgit include the ancient Kargah Buddha, carved into a cliff face over 1,500 years ago, and the lively local bazaar.